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The convenience of wireless printing is likely obvious to any small-business owner on the go. Added to the mobility offered by Apple's iPad tablets and smartphones, you're rarely inconvenienced when away from the office because you no longer need a cabled connection to your iPad or iPhone printer. Apple's AirPrint utility makes the connection between your Apple device and compatible AirPrint printers fast and easy.

Tip

The most efficient way to print from an iPad uses the AirPrint function integrated into Apple iOS devices.

How to Add a Printer to an iPad

Unlike many operating systems, iOS devices don't configure printers using options under Settings or similar menus. Power up your printer and open a standard iPad app, such as Mail. Tap the "Share" icon and select "Print." Tap "Select Printer" and tap your AirPrint-enabled wireless printer in the available printers list. You're ready to print. You'll find the Share icon in most of the apps on the iPad.

Printing a Document on an iPad

The simplest way to print from your iPad or any other supported Apple device is through the built-in AirPrint function. There are other alternatives if you don't have an AirPrint-enabled printer. However, most current model printers from major equipment manufacturers include AirPrint support.

Open the app from which you want to print on your iPad.

Tap the app's "Share" icon and select "Print," if it's available. Many, but not all, apps support AirPrint.

Select a printer from the "Printer Options" dialog. Available AirPrint printers may already appear.

Choose other options, such as the number of copies, pages, and color or black-and-white printing.

Tap "Print" in the upper right corner of the dialog.

Tip

AirPrint first appeared in Apple devices running the iOS 4.2 operating system. It is built in on every iOS device since then including the iPad Pro, the iPad and the iPad 4 Mini.

How to Print Without an AirPrint Printer

While the AirPrint function is highly convenient, some wireless printers still aren't compatible with AirPrint. Your device may be able to use these successfully, but this depends more on the capability of the printer than the iPad.

Printers that can set up a wireless access point can connect to your iPad using Settings and Wi-Fi. The printer's manufacturer likely has an app for use with iOS devices. For example, Canon, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark each have iOS apps for use with their compatible printers. Using these apps approximates the AirPrint function, but there are added steps that vary by manufacturer.

There are also third-party apps, such as AirPrint Activator, that offer alternatives to AirPrint. The success of these apps again depends more on your printer than your iOS device. Some printers permit internal setup of an email address so that you can print via mail from any device. Bluetooth printing is also possible, but this is a comparatively limited option on printers.

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About the Author

With degrees in Photography and Recorded Music Production, Scott spent over 20 years as an Operations Manager with Kodak before starting a second career as a freelance content creator specializing in business, accounting and tax topics. Periodicals include FIVE Magazine and Your Business for the Your Magazines Canada group and online clients include TurboTax, Office Depot, Hyundai USA and VISA. www.shpak60.ca

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Spike Mafford/Photodisc/Getty Images

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Shpak, Scott. "How to Connect My iPad to a Wireless Printer." Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/connect-ipad-wireless-printer-77450.html. 03 August 2018.

Shpak, Scott. (2018, August 03). How to Connect My iPad to a Wireless Printer. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/connect-ipad-wireless-printer-77450.html